Pad for use in scanning data stored on a flat surface

ABSTRACT

A device for scanning patterns from a surface of a pad includes in combination a scanner which is moved over the pad surface to read data stored in those patterns, and calibration marks preferably provided on the surface of the pad outside the region carrying the patterns. The calibration marks are detectable by the scanner for comparison with parameters of a scanning process.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention pertains to a pad for scanning data stored on a flatsurface in data processing equipment.

During a scanning process, essentially text, figures, drawings, imagesand designs of a general and/or artistic nature are sensed by means of ascanner in order to be sent to a data processing system after storage ina buffer. In this case the scanner cannot be run arbitrarily across thesurface being scanned. Rather a regular control along appropriate pathsections is required.

In order not to falsify the result of the scan, contact surfaces, calledpads, have been used heretofore that will meet the specific demands ofsurface characteristics, roll resistance etc. In order to prevent a flatdata carrier from sliding during the scan, pads were developed with atransparent surface attached to said carrier. This transparent surfacerests in its entirety on the pad due to the attachment provided on oneedge of the pad--as a kind of a turned page. However, the transparentsurface can also be removed from the pad, in which the connectionbetween pad and transparent surface will naturally remain. A flat datacarrier is placed between the pad and the transparent surface, so that alayering of transparent surface on the flat data carrier being scannedon the pad will result. The scanner will be set on the transparentsurface and in this manner will scan the data carrier underneath.

However, this kind of pad has the disadvantage that significantparameters for the scanning process will not be ascertained. Inparticular, the scanner cannot be either adjusted or calibrated. Anoverview of the storage capacity still available in the buffer, ismissing entirely.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to avoid disadvantages of the pad ofthe above type.

This and other objects will be achieved by a device for scanning apattern, and including calibration mark means detachable by a scanner,for comparison with parameters of the scanning process. Thus it ispossible for the user to optimize the scanning process with assistancefrom ancillary means. Both the location and motion of the scanner, butalso the quality of the scanned document will be known to him at anytime. Errors in scanning, that in particular necessitate repeat scans,can be avoided.

In one particularly favorable design of the pad according to thisinvention, the features are integrated into the pad. Thus the featuresneeded for the comparison will be present for the user at any time. Thusthe user will have the potential at any time to monitor the scanningprocess by means of these features. With regard to a carrier for thedata stored on a flat surface, there will be a kind of calibration ofthe features needed for the comparison.

In another design of the pad, the features are provided structurallyseparate from the pad. The operator can then limit its comparison withparameters of the scanning process only to a quite specific, necessaryand short time period. Only in this time period will the features of thepad be used, otherwise they can be stored at another location and arethus not adverse. A refitting of already existing pads without thesefeatures is thus possible at any time.

Another preferred design of the invented pad is characterized by aparticular design of the pad such that these features allow anadjustment and/or calibration of the scanner and/or an overview of thescan path with respect to the storage space needed for the particulardata being scanned. Thus the operator will be able to optimize thescanning process at any particular time point. The scanning motionsrequired for a larger surface will be tailored to each other. Due to theresultant overview of the scan path with respect to the storage size ofthe buffer, the operator will know precisely where his scanner islocated on the pad. After an interruption of the scanning process, atime-consuming search for the suitable site for resumption of thescanning process will be avoided. The location of the interruption ofthe scanning process will be virtually marked. The scanning process canbe continued directly at this site.

In an additional favorable configuration of the invented pad, thefeatures are scale marks and/or lines and/or gray scales and/or gridsand/or color fields. With the help of scale marks, but also of thelines, the surface to be scanned can be determined in an optimal manner.Nonessential supplemental symbols will not be scanned. Likewise thevertical profile of the scanner can be controlled. By means of the grayscales the quality of the scanner can be checked. Grids are used todetermine the quality of the data to be scanned based on the resolution.The color fields are used exclusively to obtain conclusions about thecolor quality of the scanned pad.

In an additional design of the pad according to this invention, at leastone transparent or translucent upper surface and one contact surface areprovided, where carriers for the data stored on the flat surface can bebrought between the one transparent surface and the contact surface andthe features are provided for comparison with parameters of the scanprocess in one section--in particular at least in part at the edge ofthe upper surface. This will prevent the carrier from slipping. Thesurface being scanned features uniform roll resistance. It isparticularly preferred when the upper surface consists of glass or oftransparent foil. Errors in the data during scanning can thus be mostlyavoided. The contact surface consists preferably of flexible or rigidmaterial, which likewise promotes the uniformity of the scanningprocess.

In another design of the invented pad the upper and the contact surfaceare joined together in particular at one or more edges. In an additionalpreferred design of the invented pad, the upper surface is folded suchthat it at the same time forms the contact surface at least in part. Inthe two pads described above, the carrier for the data stored on a flatsurface can be brought in a simple manner between the upper surface andthe contact surface. The upper surface and contact surface move relativeto each other during the insertion process, by folding them together orapart. If the carrier rests at the joint between upper surface andcontact surface, a resistance will be imparted to it that preventsslipping of the carrier, in addition to friction forces from the uppersurface and contact surface on the carrier. Naturally the upper surfaceand contact surface can have rectangular, round or even square shape,depending on the particular prevailing conditions. Any othertwo-dimensional shapes are also possible.

It is preferable to use nearly exclusively those materials that drainelectrostatic charges. This will ensure the integrity of the electronicsin the scanner. Likewise the charge drain from the scanned pad.

It is particularly preferred when the invented pad has a device to guidethe scanner with attachment features that are detachably connected withadditional associated attachment features of the upper surface. With theassistance of the device to control the scanner, slipping of the scannerfrom the specified scan line and direction will be prevented. Scannersusually feature recesses in their lower front side--and specifically inthe two outer regions of the scanner. This means that the scannerfeatures a larger distance from the surface of a scanned surface inthese short recess sections than in its middle regions. One of the tworecesses of the scanner is used to reach at least part of the way arounda device to control the scanner. If a certain lateral pressure isapplied manually from the scanner to the device to control the scannerduring the scan process, then the scanner can also be moved along thispath in contact with the control device. The control device consequentlydetermines the path of the scanner. This is an advantage in particularwhen for example, several columns of text are to be scanned on one page.For example, if the direction of scanning motion of the scanner werechanged due to differently directed external forces applied to a scannerwithout a controller, then each time the reference system would have tobe changed for the letters and numbers to be determined and transmitted.These changes would be associated with a large time requirement. Bymeans of the scanner running parallel with the same control device, thiskind of undesirable "adjustment" of the scanner can be prevented. At thesame time, the operator of the scanning device need not be familiar withthe checking of the scan direction of a scanner. But in order to preventthe control device from slipping off even after strong external forceapplication onto the scanner, it will be detachably mounted by using theparticular attachment features at the upper surface of the pad.

In order to be able to move the device to control the scanner quicklyand effortlessly from one site of the pad and to attach it again atanother location of the pad, the device to control the scanner isdesigned preferably as a ruler-like element. This element has upper andlower end sections featuring preferably a protrusion, in particular inthe shape of a lug as a mounting feature and is removable for detachableconnection in correspondingly formed holes as additional attachmentfeatures in the upper surface of the pad.

It is particularly preferred when the holes in the upper surface of thepad are located at least in part not in/on features that are read by thescanner. This will prevent the holes from impacting the function andtask of the features for comparison with parameters of the scan process.In spite of the use of the control device, the features can continue toserve with their entire information area for comparison with parametersof the scan process.

It is particularly preferred for the connecting path between twomutually associated holes--where the assignment takes placeautomatically by means of the length of the ruler-like element--to runpreferably roughly parallel to the columns of a text being scanned. Theoperator can thus scan data in the fastest possible manner. The scanningprocess will also be supported since the holes (or perforations) in theupper and lower section of the upper surface are positioned equidistantto each other. It is self-evident that the holes are not restricted totheir location in this preferred configuration. Their positioning issubject to the particular requirements arising from the specificscanning process.

Particularly preferred is a recess in the upper surface, preferablyoutside of the features read by the scanner and outside of the scansurface, where the recess is used to hold the device to guide thescanner and in particular is adapted to its spatial configuration. Thusthe operator will know whether or not he needs a controller to supporthis scanning operation. If he needs a device to control the scanner,then one simple procedure will make available the needed assets tosupport his processing.

It is particularly preferred for the device to feature a handle to guidethe scanner. This will make it possible for the user to handle thecontrol device manually, in particular to remove the above-mentionedrecess in the upper surface of the pad.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of the scanning of data from adocument and;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the upper surface with features located in theouter region for comparison with parameters of the scanning process;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the upper surface with perforations,a ruler-likecontrol element and a recess for this element in the upper surface; and

FIG. 4 is a cross section on an enlarged scale through an end section ofthe ruler-like element with mounting lugs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a substrate 1 consisting of an upper surface 2 and asupport surface 3. This upper surface 2 and the support surface 3 arejoined together at one of their long edges 4. In particular, in theillustrated embodiment the left side of the upper surface 2 is connectedon its long side, vertically from the left outer edge, down to the rightresolution side (as explained below) with the support surface 3 by meansfor full-surface adhesion. In the illustrated embodiment the uppersurface 2 consists of a transparent foil with a thickness of 370 μm. Thesupport or contact surface 3 consists of flexible conducting materialwith a thickness of about 2.5 mm.

The upper surface 2 features on its left and also on its upper edge astrip 5 that contains the marks or features to be described below forcomparison with parameters of the scanning process.

A data carrier (not illustrated) is pushed from the right under theupper surface 2 for in the purpose of scanning the embodiment of FIG. 1.The boundary for the carrier is formed by the adhesive surface beginningat a resolution scan line 13 (FIG. 2). Any occurring static charges willbe drained across the contact surface 3. It is preferred to imprint theupper surface 2 from the underside by using silk-screening and toprovide a wear-resistant coating.

If the data carrier (not illustrated) is located between the uppersurface 2 and contact surface 3, then these two surfaces 2, 3 are movedrelative to each other so that they clamp the carrier between them. Ascanner 6 will be moved across the wear-resistant upper surface 2 andwill direct the scanned data along a line 7 to a data processing device8.

FIG. 2 specifically shows the strip 5 of the upper surface 2. Thefeatures for comparison with parameters of the scan process which thestrip 5 contains are explained in greater detail below.

If the scanner 6 is moved along a first scan line 11, then it will imageonly the data to the right of this line 11. If the scanner 6 is movedalong a scan line 12, then it will image the data along the scan line 11according to its control. But in addition, the imaging of scan line 12will occur in order to be able to verify the vertical run of the scanner6 on the screen of the data processing device 8.

If the scanner 6 is moved along the resolution scan line 13, theninitially the same results can be achieved as for a motion of thescanner along the scan lines 11 and 12. In addition, there will be animage of the resolution FIGS. 9 located one below the other forcomparison. Thus the image quality, i.e., the resolution of the scanner6 can be determined. A readjustment is thus immediately possible. Inorder to be able to verify the image quality during scanning, underneaththe resolution figures there are gray scales 10 or figures or gridsprovided for comparison. Depending on the requirements, these FIGS. 10or representations will be marked through during a motion of the scanner6 along the scan line 13 and provide the corresponding comparison valuesfor the imaging quality.

The movement of the scanner 6 along a scan line 14 also offers thepossibility of a continual orientation aid during scanning along thescan lines 11, 12 and 13. As already explained above, the operator willimmediately know exactly where he has to begin the scanning process anewin case of an interruption of the scanning process. To do this, he willmove the scanner 6 along the scan line 14 and find the scale withimprinted numbers. The numbers are used to help find the proper positionof the scanner 6.

Color tuning can be done by using a movement of the scanner 6 along scanlines 15 and 16. A movement of the scanner 6 along scan line 15 willcause scanning of three base colors 17, a movement along scan line 16will cause scanning of the associated complementary colors 18.

FIG. 3 shows a modification of the upper surface 2', and also additionalauxiliary features used for scanning according to a preferredembodiment. A ruler-like element 20 features a handle 21 that is usedfor a fast and easy manual change of its position.

FIG. 4 presents an end section of the ruler-like element 20 with alug-like protrusion 22. This lug-like protrusion 22 is used fordetachable mounting of the ruler-like element to the upper surface 2'.For the attachment there are holes 23 in the upper section of the uppersurface 2' and in the lower section of the upper surface 2' there areholes 24 to hold the lug-like protrusions 22 located at the ends of theruler-like element 20. The holes 23 and 24 are equidistant in theembodiment shown in FIG. 3. The ruler-like element 20 can only bepositioned due to the spacing of the mutually associated holes 23 and24, so that it comes to rest parallel with the features 9, 11, 12, 13,14, 15, 16, 17, 18 (shown in FIG. 2) for comparison with parameters ofthe scanning process. After placement of the text to be scanned in thepad a movement of the scanner 6' parallel or perpendicular to thesefeatures 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 (shown in FIG. 2) is desired;to satisfy this requirement a corresponding arrangement of the holes 23,24 and a corresponding mounting and arrangement of the ruler-likeelement 20 are used. The scanner 6' has recesses 25 on its frontunderside, specifically in its two outer regions. When the ruler-likeelement 20 is positioned on the upper surface 2', these recesses 25 ofthe scanner 6' can partly extend over or around the surface of theruler-like element. The scanner 6' is moved over one of these recesses25 along the ruler-like element 20.

In order to make the ruler-like element 20 (which is considered as anauxiliary device) available to the operator at any time, a recess 26 isprovided in a side section 27 of the upper surface 2'. The shape of therecess 26 corresponds essentially to the shape of the ruler-like element20. However, it is preferably enlarged in the handle region compared tothe space required for the actual handle 21, so that the ruler-likeelement 20 can be grasped at this point.

I claim:
 1. A device for scanning patterns from a surface of a pad, thedevice comprising in combination:a scanner adapted to be manually movedover said surface to scan data from said patterns thereon; a pluralityof calibration marks, integrated in said pad and provided on saidsurface thereof and indicating image resolution parameters required forscanned patterns and being detectable by said scanner as said scanner ismoved over said surface for immediate calibration of said scanner duringa scanning process of said data so that the scanning process may becontrolled by a user comparing said calibration marks with imageresolution parameters of said scanning process; and guiding meansdetachably attached to said pad for guiding said scanner parallel andperpendicular to said calibration marks.
 2. The device according toclaim 1, wherein said calibration marks are configured to permitadjustment of said scanner for specific data to be scanned.
 3. Thedevice according to claim 1, wherein said pad includes a transparentpart having said surface and a supporting part so that the patterns fordata stored in a two-dimensional form are provided between saidtransparent part and said supporting part, and said calibration marksare arranged at least partially at an edge of said surface.
 4. Thedevice according to claim 3, wherein said transparent part is made of amaterial selected from the group consisting of glass and a transparentfilm.
 5. The device according to claim 4, wherein said supporting partis made of flexible or rigid material.
 6. The device according to claim5, wherein said transparent part and said supporting part are connectedto each other at least at one edge thereof.
 7. The device according toclaim 3, wherein said transparent part is folded so that it partiallysimultaneously forms said supporting part.
 8. The device according toclaim 1, wherein said calibration marks are configured as mark meansselected from the group consisting of scales, lines, gray scales, gridsand colored fields.
 9. The device according to claim 1, wherein said padis made of a material which discharges electrostatic charges.
 10. Adevice for scanning patterns from a surface of a pad, comprising incombination a scanner adapted to be moved over said surface to scan datafrom said patterns thereon;calibration mark means detectable by saidscanner for immediate calibration of said scanner during a scanningprocess of said data so that the scanning process may be controlled by auser comparing said calibration mark means with image resolutionparameters of said scanning process; and guiding meansdetachably-attached to said pad for guiding said scanner relative tosaid pad, said calibration mark means being integrated in said pad,wherein said guiding means is a ruler-shaped element having a protrusionat each end thereof, said protrusion being shaped as a lug, said padhaving holes each for detachably-receiving a respective protrusion ofsaid ruler-shaped element.
 11. The device according to claim 10, whereinsaid holes are provided outside of a region of said pad having saidcalibration mark means thereon.
 12. The device according to claim 11,wherein said holes are positioned in an upper section and a lowersection of said surface in rows, said holes in each row being positionedequidistant to each other.
 13. The device according to claim 10, whereinan imaginary connecting path between two mutually associated holes forsaid ruler-shaped element runs parallel to columns of a textrepresenting said patterns being scanned.
 14. The device according toclaim 10, wherein a recess is provided in said pad at said surface in aregion outside of said calibration mark means, for holding saidruler-shaped element when not in use.